Front load bucket attachment assembly with receiver

ABSTRACT

A digging attachment undercarriage assembly includes two cross members, a pair of mounting bracket hooks, four stabilizing receivers with two common ratchet straps, a left and a right perpendicular beam and a receiver box mounted on a perpendicular horizontal plane on the underside midpoint on both cross members. This invention attaches as an undercarriage on a front load bucket with a receiver box capable of interchanging various digging and other construction tools.

REFERENCES CITED {REFERENCED BY]

U.S. Patent Documents 187466 February 1877 Humphreys 2468579 April 1949Vuori 2699601 January 1955 Darnell 2864184 December 1958 Fohr 2865184December 1958 Fohr 2916835 December 1959 Boyce 3999315 December 1976 Nye4704811 November 1987 Jefferson 4892155 January 1990 Wanamaker 5273375December 1993 Plourde 5377766 January 1995 Klinger 5615499 April 1997McGuire 6428031 August 2002 McCoy 9216883 December 2015 Williams

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention broadly relates to digging equipment and the uniqueability to interchange digging tools for adapting the attachment to afront load bucket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certainly in the last five decades the landscape industry and many homeowners have utilized sub-compact tractors with a front load bucket toease the burden of manual labor. Some of these task executed with thefront load bucket would include excavating dirt or other material andlifting all sorts of material to be transported to a differentlocations. The idea behind this invention is to extend the number oftask that a front load bucket could perform by merely pulling a pin andinserting a different tool. Examples of some of these tools wouldinclude a landscape shovel for transplanting trees or shrubs, a threepoint shovel for digging a drainage ditch or digging a hole for variousreasons and a plow or a rake for grading soil on a landscape. Theversatility of this invention is limitless and offers a lightweightinexpensive addition for a sub-compact tractor with a front load bucketto do many small jobs rather than using heavy expensive equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE PICTURE DRAWINGS

The understanding of the invention will become quite clear whenexamining the picture drawings along with the detailed description wherethe numbers coincide with the manufactured parts of the invention. Thisis not just an idea with some drawings scratched down but an actualpiece of equipment that was built and vigorously tested.

These parts and descriptions in correspondence to each FIG. and numberare as follows; as

FIG. 1 is a top view of the carriage frame of the invention thatattaches to and underneath the front load bucket;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the carriage frame of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the carriage frame of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the carriage frame of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the carriage frame of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a full perspective view of the carriage frame of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a dimensional front view of the carriage frame of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a dimensional rear view of the carriage frame of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a dimensional bottom view of the carriage frame of theinvention with a landscape tool engaged;

FIG. 10 is a dimensional top view of the carriage frame of the inventionwith a landscape tool engaged;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the tool beam and receiver box ofthe invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the top frame showing a machinedset screw with the tool inserted to tighten or loosen;

FIG. A-P1 is a full picture of the digging attachment assembly withreceiver and incerted tool attached to the front load bucket of asub-compact tractor showing the strapping mechanisms that stabilize theinvention to the front load bucket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following picture drawings, the proposed invention will bedescribed by the means of identifying the manufactured parts associatedwith the numbers and the FIGS. shown.

In FIG. 1 note that the overall appearance of the proposed invention hasa rectangular design with a middle beam protruding beyond one of therectangle beams. Note that all of the manufactured parts of FIG. 1 arefabricated from heavy metal that are all welded with the exception ofthe two machined set screws. The four manufactured parts 20, 21, 22 and23 of FIG. 1 are made from square tubing and 24 of FIG. 1 whichrepresents the receiver box is made from a larger size square tubing. 35and 36 of FIG. 1 are made of heavy welded fabricated angle ironrepresenting the mounting bracket hooks that would be used to mount tothe blade of the front load bucket by tightening 33 and 34 of FIG. 1 ,the machined set screws. The four stabilizing receivers 29, 30, 31, and32 of FIG. 1 are fabricated from heavy plate metal and are necessary forthe two heavy duty ratchet straps 11 and 12 of FIG. A-P1 to fasten inthe provided holes. The cover plates 52, 53, 54 and 55 of FIG. 1 arealso fabricated from heavy metal plates that are welded to cover exposedholes and add tremendous strength to the welded joints.

The receiver box displayed in FIG. 2 as 24 also previously mentioned as24 of FIG. 1 has a proximal end welded to the middle of the bottom faceon the rear cross-member 22 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 which abuts the bottomface and the top face corner. The receiver box 24 of FIG. 2 then extendsfrom the proximal end to be welded to the middle of the bottom facecross-member 23 of FIG. 2 . and FIG. 1 with the distal end protrudingbeyond the front face of cross-member 23 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 . Noticein FIG. 2 that stabilizing receivers 29 and 31 are welded to the bottomface of the rear cross-member 22 of FIG. 2 extending outwardly protrudedfrom the rear face on a horizontal plane with the holes of thestabilizing receivers 29 and 31 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 exposed. Where theleft face of receiver box 24 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 abuts the bottom faceof rear cross-member 22 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 also abutting the bottomface of front cross-member 23 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 with the right faceof receiver box 24 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 abuts the bottom face of rearcross-member 22 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 also abutting the bottom face offront cross-member 23 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , braces 46, 47, 48, and 49of FIG. 2 in the shape of an equilateral triangle made of thick platemetal are welded in place each perpendicular abuting each face andparallel to the front face and rear face of the inventions' carriageframe.

The side view FIG. 3 displays plates 52 and 53 welded on the face of theleft perpendicular beam 21 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 where 52 of FIG. 3 abutsthe proximal end of the beam and 53 of FIG. 3 abuts the distal end ofthe beam.

The side view FIG. 4 displays plates 54 and 55 welded on the face of theright perpendicular beam 20 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 where 54 of FIG. 4abuts the proximal end of the beam and 55 of FIG. 4 abuts the distal endof the beam.

In the partial perspective view of FIG. 5 and the full perspective viewof FIG. 6 , the stabilizer receiver plates 30 and 32 are welded on thefront face of the front cross-member 23 of FIG. 1 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6near each outside corner with the exposed receiving holes extending andprotruding above the face of front cross-member 23 of FIG. 5 , FIG. 6and first introduced in FIG. 1 .

The dimensional front view FIG. 7 exhibits five main components whichwould be 60 at the distal end representing the opening of receiver box24 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 1 where each tool would be inserted. FIG. 7 alsoclearly shows the correct position for the mounting hooks 35 and 36 ofFIG. 7 and FIG. 1 to mount on the blade of the front load bucket and thefront two stabilizing receivers 30 and 31 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 1 inposition to receive the hooks of the ratchet straps that encompass theupper portion of the front load bucket displayed in FIG. A-P1 as B andC.

The dimensional rear view of FIG. 8 visualizes the open proximal end 61of FIG. 8 of the receiver box 24 of FIG. 8 and FIG. 1 that allowsmoisture to escape. It also shows the open spaces of the mounting hooks35 and 36 of FIG. 8 and FIG. 1 that fit over and under the blade of thefront load bucket.

FIG. 9 exhibits a dimensional bottom view with landscape tool 70 of FIG.9 engaged while FIG. 10 exhibits a dimensional top view of the landscapetool 70 of FIG. 10 and previously introduced in FIG. 9 engaged in theinvention.

The cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 displays two latching holes 80located on tool beam 84 and 81 located on receiver box 24 of FIG. 11 andFIG. 1 when tool beam 84 is incerted into receiver box 24 of FIG. 11latch holes 80 and 81 of FIG. 11 match up so that latch pin 82 of FIG.11 can be incerted and whole mechanism secured with clasp pin 83 of FIG.11 .

The cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 shows a removable tool 90 alreadyincerted in machine screw 36 of FIG. 12 and initially displayed in FIG.1 which enables the ability to tighten the unit to the blade of thefront load bucket not displayed.

The FIG. A-P1 reveals a picture of the entire invention as it wasintended to be operated and attached to a front load bucket.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention was devised for the purpose of interchangingmultiple tools into a framework attached to a front load bucket bymerely incerting the tool beam into the receiver box till the holes lineup together and securing the tool with the latching pin.

To achieve attaching the invention to a front load bucket, simply hookthe mounting hooks on the blade of the front load bucket with the frameunder the front load bucket and then tighten the machine screws. Next,attach the hook of the ratching strap on the hole of a stabilizingreceiver on the left side of the frame running the strap over top of thefront load bucket adjusting the strap to reach the other left sidestabilizing receiver hole. Repeat the procedure to placing a ratchetstrap on the right side then tighten both ratchet straps. The inventionwould be ready to engage a tool for use.

One aspect of the invention concerns the main objective of the toolswhich attributes to digging and moving earth, plants plus many othermaterials that also makes this excavating devise extremely versatile.

Another aspect to consider when examining this new invention comprisesof many existing ideas and elements prior to its creation such asforklift tines that use an assembly which attaches to a front loadbucket for many decades or a receiver box that interchanges varioustowing apparatus for the purpose of towing something behind a vehicleand a trenching device that attaches to a front load bucket for thestrict purpose of cutting a narrow furrow for a silt fence. While thereare similar aspects to the proposed new invention just as mostinventions use components and concepts that bring about a new invention,this invention is unique from the standpoint that only this proposedinvention offers the ability to perform multiple tasks where previouslymentioned inventions are limited to one purpose.

Specifically, this invention constitutes a sturdy but lightweightundercarriage frame that the assembly can be engaged or removed withlittle effort to do small jobs that the normal current equipmentrequires a burden of work just to move it. The cost of the present newinvention compared to previously existing equipment would be less thanone tenth making it very affordable to anyone possessing a sub-compacttractor with a front load bucket.

In addition, the advantages and novel features of the tools that can beengaged are unlimited due to the fact that every tool can be mounted toa square piece of tubing with two corresponding holes drilled in eachside. Some of these tools could include a landscape shovel, a threepoint shovel, a square shovel, a landscape rake, a garden hoe, a hitchball, a truss lifting devise or a small snow plow that also could beused for excavating and leveling material.

In conclusion, the simplicity of this unique invention allows anyonewith a front load bucket on a machine such as a sub-compact tractor toperform tasks that would normally be done manually.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationNo. 63/103,748 filed Aug. 21, 2020

What we claim is:
 1. A digging attachment assembly targeted purpose forconnecting the apparatus to a sub-compact tractor front load bucketwhich may also be adapted to a larger front load bucket: providing anundercarriage frame which includes a receiver box for multiple tools;mounting bracket hooks on the said frame for purpose of attaching thesaid assembly to the blade of the said front load bucket; stabilizingreceivers located at both front top corners of the said frame and alsothe rear bottom corners of the said frame; two common ratchet strapsextend around the said front load bucket and attach to the four saidstabilizing receivers;
 2. The digging attachment assembly of claim 1comprises of a front cross member with a parallel rear cross member. 3.The digging attachment assembly of claim 1 comprises of a lefthorizontal beam attached perpendicular to the said front cross memberand also attached perpendicular
 4. The digging attachment assembly ofclaim 1 comprises a right horizontal beam attached perpendicular to thesaid front cross member and also attached perpendicular to the said rearcross member.
 5. The digging attachment assembly of claim 1 comprises ofa said receiver box which begins at the rear face of the said rear crossmember of claim 2 which attaches to the bottom middle face then extendsto attach to the bottom middle face of the said front cross member ofclaim 2 which the distal end extends a length beyond the said crossmember of claim
 2. 6. The digging attachment assembly of claim 1comprises of a said receiver box that includes two holes near the distalend extended section of the said receiver box; these holes receive a pinthat latches the beam of the said tool to the matching holes of the saidreceiver box.
 7. The digging attachment assembly of claim 1 possessesthe ability to reverse each said tool by simply pulling the saidlatching pin of claim 6 and place the said tool in an opposite position.8. A plate welded where each said cross members of claim 1 and each saidhorizontal beams of claim 3 meet to add strength to the said frame andserve as a cover to protect the open holes from outside foreignelements.
 9. The said mounting bracket hooks of claim 1 shall extendinwardly from the said front cross member with space between the topface of the said cross member and the said mounting bracket hook to hookover the said front load bucket blade; in the center of each saidmounting bracket hook a machined set screw is placed to tighten down onthe said front load bucket blade.
 10. The digging attachment assembly ofclaim 1 utilizes the said receiver box to interchange various said toolssuch as a landscape shovel, three point shovel, garden hoe, landscaperake, ball hitch, lifting hook, escavating or snow plow, truss liftingdevice.
 11. The undercarriage frame of claim 1 enables a greater powertransfer from the width of the said front load bucket to the smallerwidth of the said tool such as the said landscape shovel and the saidthree point shovel of claim 10 for examples.